Pousada Vila do Penedo

Breakfast was very limited: coffee only, no tea or jam, and the fruit juice came concentrated, so you had to add water. The rooms had only the basics, and I was disappointed by the hygiene. There were no mattress protectors or fitted sheets, the sheets kept bunching up, and they were torn. It left me lying on a mattress that didn’t feel clean, and frankly the hygiene seemed questionable. The pousada has a beautiful spot overlooking the river and is near the historic center of Penedo. Still, there’s a lot that needs improving.

I paid extra for a “river view,” which turned out to be a small window with just a little bit of river visible in the distance. The room was in poor condition, the pillows were awful and full of chopped-up foam, and the bathroom was so cramped you could barely get in. It made for a very expensive, unpleasant stay. No location makes up for that.

We were welcomed so warmly, my husband and I. We arrived a little before the agreed time, but the room was nearly ready and they let us check in early. The service was excellent from start to finish, and breakfast was wonderful. Our bed was comfortable, the room was huge, and the location was great. We had no problems at all and wished we could have stayed much longer. We’ll definitely return to Penedo and stay at this pousada again.

The staff are very attentive, and the location is the pousada’s best feature. Still, the place needs some improvements, especially the finish in the rooms. The bathroom is tiny: a taller person would have trouble using the toilet, and the sink is far too low. The breakfast area also needs attention to keep the food from being contaminated. Birds come inside and perch on the food containers. The space needs renovating so the area can be improved and birds kept out.